A member of the transition team of Erie County Executive-elect Mark Poloncarz has resigned after sexual harassment and discrimination allegations surfaced.
Bernard Tolbert is a former special agent-in-charge of the Buffalo FBI. He is being sued by women employees from the National Basketball Association. Tolbert once headed security for the NBA.
A New York Times article says Tolbert also settled a sexual harassment case filed against him in 2009 by an administrative assistant at the NBA.
Tolbert is a Buffalo native. He returned to Buffalo in 2010 after leaving the NBA. According to the Buffalo News, Tolbert has been exploring a possible run for Buffalo mayor in 2013.
WBFO News asked for a comment from Poloncarz on the Tolbert resignation. We were issued the following written statement from Transition Team Chairman Michael Joseph:
“The transition team was unaware of this situation and allegations until we learned of the New York Times article this afternoon. I spoke with Bernard Tolbert this evening and he informed me that he did not want this matter to distract from the important work the transition team is engaged in, and as a result he resigned from the transition team effective immediately.”
Tolbert is a University at Buffalo graduate. In a UB alumni profile, Tolbert was described as a "sports fanatic" and was in his "dream job" as senior vice president for security at the NBA.